To help you prepare for Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, you will read a nonfiction article titled “Without Independence, Freedom Is Just a Word.” The article describes several key aspects of life for African Americans in the Depression-era South, where freedom was still something that many African Americans were not allowed to enjoy.

As you read the article, you may encounter some words that you don’t recognize. Too many unknown words can affect the way you comprehend a text, of course, causing you to miss some key information. Before you read the article, use the activity below to learn the meanings of some key but difficult words. First, make a guess about what each word means. Then click the word to check your answer.

emancipation	the freeing of someone from slavery
provision	the act of providing something for use
servitude	the state of being a slave to someone more powerful
perceptible	noticeable--able to be seen or recognized
vagrancy	the state or condition of homelessness
incarcerated	placed and held in prison
effectively	successfully achieving a desired result
tenant	a person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord
vulnerable	unprotected physically or emotionally
segregated	separated or divided due to race, gender, or religion

Now use the activity below to learn more about the context in which these words are often used. Match each word with the scenario it could be used to describe.